Maj Gen Lincoln Ogunewe (Rtd) has told state governors to ensure security of lives and properties are taken seriously.
He said that care must be tsken during the establishment of state funded security outfits to ensure they are working in the interest of the people and not the governors.
Maj Gen Lincoln Ogunewe(Rtd) who has recently expressed interest in the Imo Gubernatorial race through the Labour Party said that such a security outfit must have a name and must be established by act of the State House of Assembly that gives it legality and foundation.
On the second note, he added that the security outfit must undergo some level of para-military training especially on intelligence and weapon handling.
Other points made by Maj Gen Lincoln Ogunewe(Rtd) include:
The outfit must have an office and a recognized address where citizens could go to make complaints and reports.
it must have an organogram with a well known command structure for ease of identification.
The Commander of the outfit and Sub-Commanders must be known and reachable.
The outfit must have a distinguishable form of identity, uniform and identity card for its personnel.
The outfit must have distinguishable vehicle colour and markings for ease of identification.
The outfit must have a code of conduct that must guide its operations.
It must be launched to create awareness of its existence.
The outfit must cooperate with the Military, Police and other Security Agency in the discharge of their duties.
“Amotekun operating in the South West meets these criteria and more”
*I am sorry to state that any sate security outfit that does not meet the above criteria and more can be likened to a militia. Militias all over the world are known to kill, maim and destroy” Ogunewe(Rtd) said
He further stated that he will keep on speaking at every opportunity at his disposal that security is everybody’s business and pleaded with all to be involved in ensuring secured States in Nigeria.
He said that the best weapons of conflict resolution are dialogue, pacification and reintegration rather than bullets and guns.
